User guidance assistance system directing towards or observing a determined zone of interest

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a guidance assistance system having a peripheral rim defining a peripheral field of vision and a guidance information display device on the peripheral rim. The guidance information display device includes light sources which can be controlled by a control unit. The display device includes a sensor of spatial information relating to a position and/or an orientation of the visualisation window and a circuit for processing the spatial information according to the zone of interest in order to determine guidance information. The control unit is configured to control the light sources on the basis of the guidance information in order to display, in the field of vision, a direction to be followed by the user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of guidance assistancesystems.

The object of the present invention more particularly concerns aguidance assistance system for displaying visual information in realtime to assist a user in observing a determined zone of interest ordirecting towards a determined zone of interest.

Zone of interest, within the meaning of the present invention, meansthroughout the following description any zone that is of interest forthe user; it may be, for example, a final destination such as ameeting/assembly point, a finish line, a landing runway. It may also bea route, a predefined road or also one or more steps along a route or apredefined road. It may also be a target or a point or a person to beobserved/monitored. Here, it will be understood that, generally, thiszone of interest is defined by a set of spatial coordinates.

The present invention is advantageously applicable in the field of sportand particularly extreme sports or board sports such as, for example,skydiving, paragliding, downhill mountain-biking, skiing, automobilerallies, etc.

The present invention is also applicable in many other advantageousapplications in other activities such as, for example, for driving avehicle (aircraft or other) or for firefighter or military interventionsin a hostile environment.

PRIOR ART

Offset interfaces are known in the prior art; these offset interfacesare located by definition outside of the field of vision of the user andrequire a head movement of the user to be consulted.

It is easily understood that the use of such interfaces is not possiblefor certain applications such as, for example, the practice of anextreme sport. Indeed, the athlete needs to be focused on their practiceto avoid any accident; the same applies to a firefighter or a soldierduring an operation because neither of them can use their hands tointeract with the screen.

Other types of interfaces are known in the prior art that located withinthe field of vision of the user.

In aviation and more recently in the automotive field, such interfacesare in the form of “head-up display” devices, also known under theacronym HUD.

These head-up display devices more often integrate augmented realitydisplay means that make it possible to provide additional information tothe user such as, for example, extrinsic information concerning theenvironment of the vehicle.

The display of this extrinsic information often contributes to thesafety of the vehicle and makes it possible for the driver or the pilotto understand the environment in which they evolve by improving theirperception of the environment.

Thus, in the automotive field, certain Advanced Driver-AssistanceSystems (ADAS) are already known, which are equipped with an on-boardcamera and that are configured to display on a screen, for example ahead-up display or HUD screen, an element of the road environment suchas, for example, a road sign of the road environment and/or a pictogramrepresenting a vehicle circulating in front of said vehicle or adetected hazard.

Other helmets or goggles integrating a screen are also known such as,for example, those proposed in the documents EP3028121B1, FR3061312A1,FR3017966A1, US2003/0184868A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,601B1 or also FR2806312A1.

These devices therefore provide additional information either offset orsuperimposed on the field of vision of the user.

The principle of superimposing additional information in the field ofvision of a user, however, makes the use of this type of deviceunsuitable for certain applications.

-   -   Indeed, the Applicant considers that intensive practice such as        the practice of an extreme sport or an intervention by security        forces requires simple and intuitive information to be provided        for the user. This information must not obstruct the field of        vision of the user and must be usable by the user without too        much cognitive load. Indeed, explicit information, numbers,        letters require the user to defocus from the activity on which        they are concentrated.

Moreover, it is preferable for the helmet to be lightweight and small inorder to avoid hindering the practice or creating problems or fatigue onthe neck of the user.

It is also preferable for the computation times to be very short, thisparticularly in order to provide information in real time and guaranteegood energy autonomy.

-   -   The Applicant considers respectfully that the solutions of the        prior art are not satisfactory and do not offer an ergonomic and        lightweight system, requiring few computer resources and        providing the user with reliable and intuitive visual        information without obstructing their field of vision or        hindering the practice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to improve the above-describedsituation.

One of the objectives of the present invention is particularly to remedythe various above-mentioned drawbacks by proposing a user guidanceassistance solution directing towards or observing a zone of interest.

To this end, the object of the present invention relates according to afirst aspect to a user guidance assistance system directing towards orobserving a determined zone of interest.

Advantageously, the system according to the present invention includes avisualisation window having a peripheral rim defining a peripheral fieldof vision of the user.

Advantageously, the system according to the present invention furtherincludes a guidance information display device comprising a plurality oflight sources extending at least partially along the peripheral rim ofthe visualisation window, the light sources being capable of beingcontrolled independently of one another by a control unit.

Advantageously, the display device further comprises:

-   -   at least one sensor configured to capture spatial information        relating to a position and/or an orientation of the        visualisation window in relation to the zone of interest; and    -   a processing circuit configured to process the spatial        information according to the zone of interest in order to        determine user guidance information towards the zone of        interest.

Advantageously, the control unit is configured to control (selectively)the light sources on the basis of the guidance information in order todisplay in the peripheral field of vision a direction to be followed bythe user to direct towards or observe the zone of interest.

Preferably, the visualisation window is equipped with an opticalvisualisation screen (transparent). Optical visualisation screen meanshere an optical protection screen such as a visor and not a displayscreen.

Preferably, the display is carried out directly by the light pointslocated in the peripheral rim of the visualisation window.

In another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the opticalvisualisation screen is provided with etchings and/or inclusions formedin the screen, for example vertically and/or horizontally, to conductthe light emitted by the at least one light source on the screen,preferably towards the centre of the field of vision in such a way as torecentre the information so that it is less in the area of peripheralvision.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is preferably provided for that thecontrol unit is configured to control the light sources in such a way asto form a virtual reticle (or another symbol) in the field of vision ofthe user.

Here, it is understood that the light sources are actuated selectivelyon the peripheral rim of the visualisation window in such a way as tointerpose one in relation to the other to cross and form a virtualreticle in the axis of field of vision of the user, such a virtualreticle indicating with precision the direction/orientation of thetarget zone to be observed or reached.

Here, reference is made to a virtual reticle because the light sourceshere are on the peripheral rim of the visualisation window and do notcome into the central axis of the field of vision of the user. Thepresence of light sources actuated selectively in the periphery makes itpossible to form an unreal reticle that is perceived by the brain of theuser by extrapolation of the light sources and that is fictitiouslyformed by the brain of the user in the field of vision without hinderingthe concentration and the vision thereof.

Preferably, the at least one sensor is a position sensor and/or anazimuth sensor and/or an inclination sensor and/or an accelerometer.

Thus, such a sensor makes it possible to recover information relating tothe relative position of the visualisation window in relation to thezone of interest, the azimuth and/or the inclination of thevisualisation window.

Advantageously, the display device comprises wireless communicationmeans configured to communicate with an external entity in order torecover at least one item of external information relating to theexternal environment of the user.

Advantageously, the display device comprises acquisition meansconfigured to acquire at least one item of status information of thesystem.

Preferably, the control unit is configured to control each light sourcein intensity and/or in colour.

Preferably, the plurality of light sources comprises an LED or OLEDstrip.

Preferably, the plurality of light sources comprises an optical fibre.

Correlatively, the object of the present invention relates according toa second aspect to a facial support intended to be worn directly orindirectly on the head of the user and comprising a guidance assistancesystem such as described above wherein the visualisation window isassembled integrally with said facial support.

Advantageously, the facial support consists of a pair of goggles, a maskor a helmet. Here, it is understood that the facial support may also bein the form of a visor, for example. Advantageously, the facial supportis provided with at least one strap for holding in position said supporton the head of said user.

Thus, the object of the present invention, due to its various functionaland structural aspects described above, makes it possible to provide inreal time reliable guidance information for the user to guide them ororient their gaze towards a predetermined zone of interest.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the description hereinbelow, with reference to FIGS. 1 to9 that illustrate various non-limiting examples of embodiment thereofand wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a first schematic view of a guidance assistance systemaccording to an example of embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a second schematic view of the guidance assistance systemin accordance with FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a guidance assistance system accordingto another example of embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a guidance assistance system accordingto another example of embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a guidance assistance system forming areticle in the field of vision of the user;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view representing a use of a guidanceassistance system according to the invention for the practice of anactivity with a plurality of users;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic view representing a use of a guidanceassistance system according to the invention for a site comprisinghazards;

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates the guidance information display deviceintegrated into the guidance assistance system according to a particularexample of embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 illustrates an organisation chart of the various steps of amethod implemented by a device in accordance with FIG. 8 .

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS

A guidance assistance system 100 as well as the method associatedtherewith will now be described in the following together with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 9 .

The same elements are identified with the same reference signsthroughout the following description.

As explained in the preamble, behaviours are becoming digitalised andincreasingly take advantage of the recovery of data, in particulargeo-located.

Yet, technologies known to date and making it possible to accessaugmented reality exclude users under stress the safety of which dependsmainly on simple and intuitive information, such as for example, peoplepractising an extreme sport or firefighters or security forces.

Indeed, the Applicant observes that a person practising an extreme sportsuch as, for example, skydiving or downhill mountain-biking, must beable to have reliable and easy to process information without beinghindered in their practice, that is to say manipulate a dedicated objector focus on something other than their trajectory. This person mustindeed focus on their practice and must be able to obtain simpleinformation that primarily answers the following questions: “where mustI go?”, “where is the hazard?” and in some situations “where are theothers?”

The Applicant considers that the head-up display (or HUD) devices andthe augmented reality helmets are not adapted to these issues andparticularly suffer from their high technicality; thus, the currentsolutions have the following drawbacks:

they need accurate settings (inter-pupil distance, binocular dioptre,etc.),

they are heavy and bulky,

they require energy,

they are expensive,

they are likely to shift from the axis of vision in the event of impactsand to propose erroneous guidance, they are sensitive to condensation,smoke, the presence of dust.

In addition, the Applicant considers that the solutions of the prior artdo not make it possible to provide simple and usable informationdirectly to the user to answer the above questions.

The system 100 proposed here within the scope of the present inventionachieves this objective.

To achieve it, the underlying concept of the present invention is toorient the gaze and the practice of the user by exploiting the humanreflexes of attention, and hypervigilance by embedding light points inthe periphery of the field of vision of the user.

The use of the peripheral field of vision is characteristic of thepresent invention.

Such a use of the peripheral field of vision makes a peripheral visualawareness of the user possible, which is considered as the capacity ofbeing aware without being distracted by a significant amount ofinformation in relation to the particular scope and to the task to beaccomplished.

On the physiological level, it is known that the area of peripheralvision represents 80% of the surface of the retina for 20% of opticalcells. The peripheral field of vision therefore makes it possible toestablish a vigilance process over a large portion of space, with ablurred and deficient vision of the light, without distracting from theprimary task.

In addition, it is known that stressful situations (as is the use casein the case of the present invention) wakes up the nervous system which,among other things, causes the pupils to dilate. Such a dilation of thepupil therefore makes it possible for more light to enter and reach alarger area of the retina, which may provide a wider range ofinformation about the environment.

Therefore, here it is the peripheral field of vision that it is soughtto use to provide the user with simple and intuitive information withoutdistracting them in their concentration.

The present invention provides in the example of FIGS. 1 and 2 , whichillustrate therein a particular and non-limiting example of embodimentof the invention, the implementation of a user U guidance assistancesystem 100 directing towards a zone of interest, noted here T (for“target”).

This zone of interest T may correspond, for example, to a meeting orassembly point, a finish line, a step on a route, a particular point tobe observed, a danger zone to be avoided, etc. Here, this zone ofinterest T is therefore defined by spatial coordinates that are known.

The system 100 comprises a device 10, here called display device, whichincludes an electronic board having at least one memory 27.

The coordinates of the zone of interest T are saved beforehand during astep S0 in this memory 27.

In this example, the at least one memory 27 corresponds, for example, toa volatile and/or non-volatile memory and/or comprises a memory storagedevice that may comprise the volatile and/or non-volatile memory, suchas EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disc.

As previously stated, one of the objectives of the present invention isto provide easy-to-use information making it possible for the user U tobe guided in real time and intuitively towards this zone of interest Twithout being hindered in the practice of their activity.

In this example and as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the system 100integrated directly or indirectly into a facial support 200 being in theform of a mask, such as for example, a ski mask. In the example of FIG.2 , such a mask 200 is equipped with a strap 14 intended to hold themask 200 in position around the head of the user U.

In this example, the strap 14 is furthermore provided with adjustmentmeans 14 a for adjusting the diameter of the strap 14 to adapt to thesize of the head of the user U.

In this example, a conventional mask 200 is used, the general structureof which fits snugly to the anatomy of the face of the user U.

In this example, the system 100 integrated into the mask 200 thereforecomprises a visualisation window 11 delimited by the peripheral rim 12which corresponds here to the frame of the mask 200.

The peripheral rim 12 of this window 11 defines here the peripheralfield of vision of the user U.

In this example, it is provided an optical visualisation screen 13, herea shield, covering the field of vision and for protecting the eyes ofthe user U.

Such a screen 13 may further comprise a demisting treatment, ananti-ultraviolet filter and/or an anti-reflection treatment to improvethe comfort of the user.

In this example and as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the peripheral rim12 is equipped with a plurality of light sources 21. These light sources21 are therefore located in the periphery of the field of vision of theuser U and are likely to hinder them in their perception of space.Therefore, they remain visible without obstructing the vision (that isto say without coming into the central axis of the field of vision ofthe user).

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the light sources 21extend at regular intervals along this peripheral rim 12.

Here, the light sources 21 are formed by an LED (Light-Emitting Diode)or OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) strip.

Other types of light sources 21 may also be envisaged here by the personskilled in the art, such as for example, the optical fibre.

One of the underlying concepts of the present invention is to use thesesources 21 to indicate outside of the main axis of the field of visionof the user U (but in the periphery thereof) the preferred direction tobe followed to reach the zone of interest T.

This is made possible by an on-board intelligence in the system 100.

This intelligence more particularly resides in the device 10 whichcomprises, without being limited thereto, an item of on-board electronicequipment such as an electronic computer (an ECU for “Electronic ControlUnit”, a smartphone, a tablet or also a laptop computer). The elementsof the device 10, individually or combined, may be integrated into asingle integrated circuit, into a plurality of integrated circuits,and/or into discrete electronic components. The device 10 may beproduced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer)modules or also a combination of electronic circuits or softwaremodules.

In this example, the device 10 comprises one (or more) processor(s)configured to execute instructions for performing the steps of themethod and/or for executing the instructions of the on-board software inthe device 10. The processor may include the integrated memory, aninput/output interface and various circuits known by the person skilledin the art.

The computer code of the on-board software comprising the instructionsto be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in thememory 27.

In the example described here, the device 20 further comprises a controlunit 22 capable of controlling the sources 21 independently of oneanother.

In this example, the integration of at least one sensor 23 such as anazimuth sensor, an inclination sensor and/or a position sensor is alsoprovided. Such a sensor 23 is capable of capturing during a step S1spatial information I1 relating to a position and/or an orientation ofthe visualisation window (11) in relation to said zone of interest T.

The sensor 23 therefore measures a value representative of the relativeposition of the mask (that is to say theinclination/orientation/position of the gaze of the user) in relation tothe zone of interest T to be reached.

This spatial information I1 is subsequently transmitted to theprocessing circuit 24 (here, for example, a computer) which during astep S2 will process this spatial information I1 according to the zoneof interest T (here the spatial coordinates of the zone of interest Tsaved in the memory 27) in order to determine guidance information I2.

The aim of this information I2 is to determine a guidance vector toorient the gaze of the user U in such a way that they observe or directtowards the zone of interest T.

This guidance information I2 is then sent to the control unit 22 so thatit selectively controls each of the light sources 21 on the basis ofthis guidance information I2 in such a way as to, during step S3,display in the periphery of the field of vision of the user a directionto be followed so that the latter directs towards said zone of interestT.

Here, it is therefore understood that the light sources 21 will light upon the basis of this guidance information I2 determined by theprocessing circuit 24.

This selective control of the light sources 21 outside of the centralaxis of the field of vision of the user but in the periphery thereofmakes it possible to guide the user U towards the zone of interest Twithout hindering them.

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 5 , the light sources are actuated in theperiphery of the field of vision of the user in such a way as to form avirtual reticle in the field of vision thereof. The latter only has tofollow the direction provided by the virtual reticle by fixing theirgaze towards the fictive crossing of two light beams formed by the twopairs of actuated light sources.

It is understood here that this information evolves in real time withthe movement of the head and therefore of the central axis of vision ofthe user.

The display of simple visual information at the periphery of the fieldof vision of the user in the direction of the gaze and the position ofthe user is characteristic of the present invention.

The display of this information located in the area of peripheral visionmakes it possible for the user to intuitively orient themselves inspace.

A plurality of other examples of alternative embodiments are describedand illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 .

FIG. 3 shows all of the features of FIGS. 1 and 2 described above. Thepositioning and the arrangement of the light sources 21 are, however,very slightly different from the example of FIGS. 1 and 2 .

Here, the light sources 21 are integrated directly into the screen 13.

These sources 21 are inserted into one or more layers and at variousspacings of the central axis of vision between or on the various sheetsconstituting the screen 13.

In this example, the sources 21 only extend over the side edges of thescreen 13 in such a way as to limit the overall dimension of the fieldof vision. It could be considered here that the sources 21 thereforeremain in the periphery of the field of vision within the meaning of thepresent invention and do not come into the central axis of the field ofvision.

In FIG. 4 , another example of embodiment is also illustrated.

Therein, it is provided an inclusion of one or more sources 21 at aspecific position, here for example, in the top left of the field ofvision of the user U. Such an inclusion may be produced by one or morelight guides of the optical fibre type and makes it possible to reflectthe light towards the central axis of vision of the gaze of the user U.Such a light source 21 included in the screen 13 may carry informationof important nature such as, for example, information relating toimminent danger.

In an advantageous embodiment not illustrated here, it is possible toform in the optical visualisation screen 13 straight etchings and/orinclusions formed for example vertically and/or horizontally in thescreen 13 in order to conduct the light emitted by the at least onelight source 21 on the screen 13.

Thanks to these etchings/inclusions arranged in the screen 13, it isthus possible to form in the field of vision of the user a real reticlein the axis of the field of vision of the user which makes it possibleto guide the user with precision towards the zone T.

In order to enhance the visual information communicated to the user U,it is intended to provide other information and to keep into account theexternal environment (presence of a hazard for example) and any otherusers U′ who are located close to the user U.

It is therefore provided to equip the device 20 with wirelesscommunication means 24 in order to communicate with other externalentities, for example another system 100′ of another user U′ (FIG. 6 ),a remote server, the cloud, an entity 300 such as, for example, a truck(FIG. 7 ) likely to represent a hazard or also a marker signalling adanger zone not to be crossed on a site.

These communication means 24 are therefore capable of communicating withone or more external devices 100′ and/or 300 and comprise one or moreradio frequency RF interfaces, for example of the Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi®,LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced type. Thus, data may for examplebe loaded towards the device 10 via the communication interface 24 byusing a Wi-Fi® network such as according to IEEE 802.11, an ITS G5network based on IEEE 802.11p or a mobile network such as a 4G (or LTEAdvanced according to 3GPP release 10—version 10) or 5G network,particularly an LTE-V2X network.

The information 13 collected by the wireless communication means 24 istransmitted to the processing circuit 24 and is analysed to be takeninto consideration in the determination of the guidance information I2.For example, the presence of a hazard or of an obstacle on the route ofthe user U may thus be taken into consideration to recalculate anotherroute in order to reach the zone of interest T.

To secure the system, it is also possible to provide the integration ofan additional camera 26 capable of capturing images I5 representative ofthe environment. These images I5 may subsequently be processed by imageprocessing algorithms to detect a potential hazard or an obstacle.

It is also possible to provide the integration of one or more LIDAR(s)(Light Detection And Ranging) arranged on the helmet; a LIDAR sensorcorresponds here to an optoelectronic system consisting of a laseremitter device, of a receiver device comprising a light collector (tocollect the portion of the light ray emitted by the emitter andreflected by any object located on the route of the light rays emittedby the emitter) and of a photodetector that converts the collected lightinto an electrical signal; a LIDAR sensor thus makes it possible todetect the presence of objects located in the light beam emitted and tomeasure the distance between the sensor and each object detected, thisin the aim of recovering points representing an obstacle or a hazard onthe route of the user.

The information coming from this camera 26 or from the LIDAR(s) is sentdirectly to the processing circuit 24 for analysis and taken intoconsideration in the determination of the guidance information I2.

The information I3 and/or I5 coming from these wireless communicationmeans 24 and/or from the camera 26 and/or from the LIDAR(s) may also bedisplayed directly on the peripheral rim 12 of the field of vision ofthe user by the actuation of one of the light sources 21.

Thus, for example, when an external hazard is detected (for example viathe means 24 or the camera 26), it is possible to actuate a specificsource such as, for example, that which is located by inclusion in thescreen 13 (FIG. 4 ).

To secure the system, it is also possible to provide the integration ofa microphone and/or of headphones capable of collecting or processingsounds. These sounds may subsequently be processed by processingalgorithms configured to reduce the spurious noises, or to reinforce thespatial perception of a geo-referenced point.

In the example described here, it is also possible to control the lightsources 21 in intensity and/or in colour. It is possible for example toemit in the field of vision a red light that flashes with a strongintensity to signal imminent danger.

Of course, this is one example from other possible examples.

-   -   The person skilled in the art will understand here that it is        possible to provide according to the use case a plurality of        scenarios and to programme the control of the light sources 21        according to the specific features of each practice and of each        need.

Similarly, other information may be of interest and be communicated viathe light sources 21 to the user U. Thus, in the example described here,the presence of acquisition means 25 is provided that are capable ofrecovering status information I4 of the system 100, such as for example,the status of the power supply battery or the level of wear of certaincomponents to prevent a maintenance operation.

According to the coding of the information and the implementation of thedisplay decision-making model, the device 100 is capable of displaying aplurality of different information according to various selectablemodes.

For example, it is possible to provide the implementation of a remotecontrol being for example in the form of a connected watch on the wristof the user U (not shown here) which is capable via actuation on thetouch screen of selecting the type of display to switch for example thesystem from a “guidance assistance/geolocation” mode making it possibleto follow various meeting points along a predetermined route to an“equipment” mode making it possible to know the status of an item ofequipment or also a “team” mode making it possible to know the relativeposition of other users U′.

Other display modes may also be envisaged to provide the user withreliable and easy-to-use information.

Thus, for example, it is possible to provide for an orientationespecially far away from the cone of vision of the user, the actuationof a single light source to indicate the orientation towards which theuser must make a movement to find the zone of interest.

-   -   When the zone T enters the cone of vision of the user, it is        possible to provide the actuation of four light sources in        lattice (FIG. 5 ) to indicate the direction of the point        relative to that of the axis of the gaze with a virtual reticle.

Similarly, as previously stated, the intensity and/or the colour of allor part of the light sources may make it possible to signal otherinformation such as, for example, the passage of the zone of interest.The variation of parameters relating to the intensity, to the coloursand to the number of light sources 21 makes it possible to superimpose aplurality of information according to the use case.

Thus, the present invention makes it possible to overcome the variousdrawbacks of the prior art by making it possible to provide implicitinformation in the area of peripheral vision of the user.

The display of this information which does not appear in the main fieldof vision of the user but in the periphery thereof can be used directlyby the user and does not require any reflection. Thanks to the on-boardcommunication means in the system, this information may also betransmitted to other users.

The present invention is particularly intended in a non-limiting way forextreme sports, firefighters, industrial operators or also defence andsecurity force agents during their interventions. Tourist and/or digitalgame applications as well as applications for learning or reinforcingcapacities by interaction with the area of peripheral vision may also beenvisaged.

It should be observed that this detailed description concerns a specificexample of embodiment of the present invention, but that thisdescription in no way applies any limiting nature to the object of theinvention; on the contrary, it is intended to remove any inaccuracy orany incorrect interpretation of the following claims.

It should also be observed that the reference signs placed betweenparentheses in the following claims are in no way limiting; these signsare merely intended to improve the intelligibility and comprehension ofthe following claims as well as the scope of the protection sought.

1. A user guidance assistance system directing towards or observing adetermined zone of interest, said system comprising: a visualisationwindow having a peripheral rim defining a peripheral field of vision ofsaid user, and a guidance information display device comprising aplurality of light sources extending at least partially along saidperipheral rim of the visualisation window, said light sources beingcapable of being controlled independently of one another by a controlunit, wherein said display device further comprises: at least one sensorconfigured to capture spatial information relating to a position and/oran orientation of the visualisation window in relation to said zone ofinterest; a processing circuit configured to process said capturedspatial information according to the zone of interest in order todetermine guidance information of said user towards said zone ofinterest; said control unit being configured to control at least one ofsaid light sources on the basis of said guidance information in order todisplay in said peripheral field of vision a direction to be followed bysaid user to direct towards or observe said zone of interest.
 2. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the visualisation window isequipped with an optical visualisation screen.
 3. The system accordingto claim 2, wherein said optical visualisation screen is provided withstraight etchings and/or inclusions formed in the screen to conduct thelight emitted by the at least one light source on the screen.
 4. Thesystem according to claim 2, wherein the control is configured toselectively control said light sources in such a way as to form avirtual reticle on the screen.
 5. The system according to any one of thepreceding claims, wherein said at least one sensor is a position sensorand/or an azimuth sensor and/or an inclination sensor and/or anaccelerometer.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said displaydevice comprises wireless communication means configured to communicatewith an external entity in order to recover at least one item ofexternal information relating to the external environment of said user.7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said display devicecomprises acquisition means configured to acquire at least one item ofstatus information of the system.
 8. The system according to claim 1,wherein the control unit is configured to control each of the lightsources in intensity and/or in colour.
 9. The system according to claim1, wherein the plurality of light sources comprises an LED or OLEDstrip.
 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality oflight sources comprises an optical fibre.
 11. A facial support intendedto be worn directly or indirectly on the head of the user and comprisinga system according to claim 1, wherein said visualisation window isassembled integrally with said facial support.
 12. The facial supportaccording to claim 11, which is in the form of a pair of goggles, a maskor a helmet.
 13. The facial support according to claim 11, furthercomprising at least one strap for holding in position said support onthe head of said user.